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APNIC/umn FILED MAY 21. 191s.

Patented June 3, 1919.

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llatente June 3, 1919.

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ATTORNEYS.

i UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEFieE.-

cI-IAEEES I-IoEEE, oE NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

ARTIFICIAL LIME.

Application led May 27, 1918.

VLimbs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to Vmake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and techaracters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference, generally, to ii'nprovements in artificial limbs; and, the present invention relates, more particularly, to a novel construction ofartificial limb, in the form of an arm, with a View of providing a simply constructed and efficient arrangement of mechanism for operating and flexing the artificial fingers, and thumb of the device, so as to enable the person to securely grip and carry articles of considerable weight, and to otherwise use the artificial limb.

The invention has for its principal object to provide in connection with the mechanismV for manipulating tho fingers and thumb of the artificial limb in connection with each finger and the thumb, suitablyV disposed coiled springs, having ready flexibility, each spring being secured at one end to a metal shield, shell or casing, each spring being tipped at its opposite end with a cap or cupshaped member, and each spring being1 partially covered or inclosed by a flexible covermember, so as to permit ofthe proper drawing of the usual glove over the said fingers and thumb. Y

rllhe invention has for its further object to provide in connectionv with the said shield, shell or. casing, a slitted boot or legging-like member provided with an arrangement of eyelets and a lacing for securing the artificial limb to the stump or mutilated portion of' the arm, the said boot or legginglike member being also provided with a box forming ay guide in which is movably disposed a; slide and. flexible connections for connect-ing said slide with the previously mentioned. springs, and pivotally connectedV with 4said box and thesaid slide is a slotted camlever for actuating the said Vslide when the fingers," and thumb are to be fiexed. Y

OtherV objects of the present invention not Specic'ation of Letters Patent.

Patented J une V3, 1919.

Serial No. 236,746.

at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the present invention. Y

. l/Vith the various objects of the present invention in view, the said invention consists primarily, in the novel artificial limb hereinafter set forth; and the present invention consists, furthermore, in the novelV arrangementsV and combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the details ofV the construction of the said parts, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the Vclauses of the claims whichV are appended to and which form an essential part of the said specification'.-

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a top view of the artificial limb; Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the said limb.

Fig. 4 isa view, similar to Fig. 2, showing the operating parts of the mechanism in their actuated and locked relation, with the fingers of the limb in their closed positions. Y "Fig, 5 is a horizontal sectional representation, taken on line 5-5 in said Fig. 2, looking in the direction of ,the arrow av, said view being made on an enlarged scale; Fig. 6 is a similar section, taken on line 6 6 in said Fig. Q., also looking in thedirection of the arrow m, with certain elements of the device omitted from said view, said view being` also made on an enlarged scale.

Figi is a detail sectional representation taken online 77 inr said Fig. 2; and Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section, taken on line 8 8 in said Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrow y, said view showing in connection therewith one manner Vof securing the flexing springs in position.

Similar characters of reference are employed vin all of the said above described views. to indicate corresponding parts. Y

Referring now to the said drawings, the reference-character l indicates the complete artificial limb, representing one embodiment of the principles of the presentinvention, and the same comprises, in general, a main shield, shell or casing, as 2, of the general configuration shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the same being formed at its longitudinally extending marginal portions with the flangelikeelementsuor parts having the slightly inwardly curved edge-portions 5,'

substantially as shown in Figs. '3 and S of the drawings. The said shield, shell or casing 2 is also formed witlr theinclosingpart 6 from which extends at one side thereof, a suitably curved member or elementas 7. Extending rearwardly from the said inclosing part 6 is va plate-like member. or extension S of proper length, upon whic-h is suitably mounted a' correspondingly formed boX, 9, whichprovides a suitable guide in which is movably disposed a vslide of the general construction to be presently more fully described. In the closed top of said box is an elongated opening or slot 10,*-wit-h which is in` communication at the one end thereof a short and angularly disposed open portion or recess, as 11, the marginal bounding edge-portion 12 providing a holding or retaining stop for the-purposes hereinafter more fully stated. At a point suitably near this stop is a projection 13 formed with va screw or pin-receiving opening or hole 14e, in which is disposed ascrew or pivot-post, as 15. Pivotally mounted upon this screw or post 15 is the end-portion 17 of a cam-lever 16, said 'lever being lprovided with a cam,- slot, Vas 18, and with a lingerpiece 19 at its opposite end forthe manipulation of the said lever. vSuitably secured to the said shield, shell, or casing 2, by means of rivets 20, or other suitable fastening means, and by means of rivets 2l, or other suitable fastening means, along the marginal edge-portions of the said plate-like member or extension 8, is a cuff,jboot, or legging-like member,as 22, usually of leather, although other suitable material .may be employed, the said member 22 being slitted ,or open, as at 23, and being provided with an arrangement of eyelets or perforations 24, and alacing 25, for suitably securing the same about the mutilated end or stump of the limb.

Referring now l,to Figs. G and 8 of the drawings, it will be seen, that there is secured to the inner face of .the previously mentioned shellor casing 2, so as to be located between the flange-like elements or parts?) and 4:, b xmeansof rivets 26, or in any other suitab e manner, a plate27 which is'provided with suitably disposed and longitudinally extending retaining or holding members 28, suitably pressed out of the metal body of the saidy plate, each member 28 being provided with V4a number of .suitably and properly located holes or perforations ,29. Suitably threaded in said holes or perforations, in the manner illustrated in .said Fig. 8, are the inner end-portions of a series of coiled springs 30, four in number, as shown, said springs under normal initial conditions extending forwardly, but being 4son'iewhat curved, as,shown,.and.having mounted upon their free yend-portions, suitably 'formed semi-ball-shaped caps, asBl, or the like. The outer surface-portions of the coils of semiball-shaped cap 35, or the like.

said springs 30 are preferably partially covered with leather, as at 32, see Figs. 1, 2 and 4l of: the drawings, one method of securing said leather members 32 upon the said vsprings 30 being by providing the said memrinner surface of the previously mentioned curved member or element 7 is the. inner endportion of another spring, as 34, said spring under normal initial conditions extending forwardly and being slightly curved, substantially as shown in the several ligures of the drawings. Upon its free end-portion the said spring ihas also mounted thereon a The outer surface-portions of the coils of said spring-'34 are valso rpreferably partially covered with leather, as at 36, one method of securing said leather member 3G upon said spring 34C being by4 providing the said member with holes or perforat-ions 37 through Vrwhich the coils ofthe said spring are threads-c vThe previously-mentioned slide is illustrated more `particularly in Fig. il of the drawings, and the saine consists, essentially, of an arrangement of pivotally connected or articulating links or short plates, as 38, 39 and 4:0, pins or pivots 41 and 42 being employed for the pivotal arrangement of the said links. is provided with a series of holes or perforations i3, or other suitable means, for attachment to said link or plate of a number of flexible connections, in the form of tendons, as ai, which connections extend from the end of thebox 9 and beneath` and from the part 6 of .the shield, shell, or casing 2. The several liexible connections ll are passed, furthermore, into and through the respective springs 30 and are finally securely attached at their free ends to the respective caps 31, substantially in the manner illustrated'in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The link or plate 3S isvprovided with a suitably disposed post 4:5 which extends in an upward direction and is movable in the elongated opening' or slot 10 of the closed top of the box 9, the said post being provided upon its upper end, above the said top, with an enlargement o1 head, as 4G, for holding the said 4parts lin their assembled relation, but arranged so that there wilibe no binding action to prevent movement of the slide.

lHaving in the .foregoing described the general construction and arrangement of the devices and parts comprising the artificial limb, I will now briefly set forth its operation for the purpose of grasping and carrying an article.

As shown, the link or plate a0z Suppose the artificial limb'has been secured in its position upon the stump or mutilated end of an arm of the person, and that the several parts are in their normal initial positions indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings, and it is desired to grasp an article, all that is necessary is to move theY lever 16 from the position indicated in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4 of the\drawings, moving the pin or post 46 into the opening 11 and against the Vstop-edge 13 whereby the several parts will be retained in their fixed or locked relation for carrying purposes, the pull upon the flexible connections or cables 41A, and the iixed end-portions of the springs 30, lcausing the free end-portions of said springs and consequently the finger-meinbers to assume the closed or carrying relation of the same, as will be clearly evident. As soon as the lever 16 is moved in the direction of the arrow y, see Fig. 4, the post or pin i6 is withdrawn from itsk retaining engagement with theV stop-edge 13, and, the springs 30 tending to straighten out, the various parts will again assume their normal initial positions, indicated in said Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings. Y Y

Of coursel am aware that somel changes maybe made in the arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as

well as in the'details of the construction of y the same, without departing from vthe scope of my present invention as set forth in the foregoing specification and as defined in the claims appended hereto. Hence, l do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various parts as described in the foregoing specification, nor do l confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings. Y

I claimt-Y Y d 1. An artificial limb comprising a main tubular wrist portion and a forwardly extending member connected with said wrist portion, a Y series of coiled springs, each spring being attached at one end-portion to said forwardly extending member, buttonmembers mounted upon the free ends of said springs, a culi-attachment connected with and extending rearwardly from said tubular wrist portion, means connected with said cuff-attachment for securing said artificial limb to the mutilatedV portion of the limb of a person, flexibleconnections extending into and through Ysaid springs, said flexible connections being secured at one end to said button-members, a plate also connected with 'and extending rearwardly from said tubular wrist portion, a box mounted upon said plate, said box being provided with an elongated opening, and an angularly disposed open portion in communication therewith, a slide within said box with which the other ends of said flexible connections are connected,a post connectedwith said slide and Y extending from said slide into and through the vopening in said box, a pivot-post connected with and located at the side of said box, and a lever pivoted upon said pivotpost, said lever having a cam-slotfinto and through which the post of said slide `ex tends, Y Y

2. An artificialV limb comprising a main tubular wrist portion and a forwardly ex- `button-members, a plate also connected with and extending rearwardly from said tubular wrist portion, a box mounted upon. said plate, said box being provided with an elongated opening, and an angularly disposed openrportion inY communication therewith, a slide within said box. said slide comprising a `series of articulating links, means connected'with one of said links with which said flexible connections are connected, a post connected with said slide and extending from another of said links into and through the opening in said box,aV pivot-post connected with and located at the side of said box,v and a lever pivoted uponsaid pivotpost, said lever having a cam-slot into and through which the post'of said slide extends.

3. AnV artificial limb comprising tubular wrist-portion, a thumb-member and a pluralitv of finger-membersV extending for-V wardly from Ysaid wrist-portion, a chambered Velement extending rearwardly Yfrom said wrist-portion. a slide movablv 'disposed VwithinV said chambered element, a post ex-VV tending from said slide, a cam-lever pivoted to said chambered element, said lever being in engagement with said 'oost for actuacting said slide, and means in the form of tendonsVV extending from said slide and connected with saidV thumb and finger-members for bringing the same into flexed positions.

4. `An artificial limb comprising a tubular wrist-portion, a thumb-member and a plu-V extending from said slide and connected with said thumb and linger-members for bringing the same into flexedlpositions, and and a stop-means connected with said chambered element with which said post is adapted to be brought into arrested engagementJ for retaining said slide in its rearwardly moved position.

5. An artificial limb comprising a tubular wrist-portion, a thumb-member and a vplurality of finger-members extending forwardly from said wrist-portion, a chambered element extending rearwardly from said wristportion, a plurality of4 articulating links movably disposed within said chambered element, means connected with one of said links for actuating the same, and means in the form of tendons extending from another Vof said links and connected with said thumb and finger-members for bringing-the same into flexed positions.

6. An artificial limb comprising a tubular wrist-portion, a thumb-member and a plurality of finger-members extending Vforwardly from said wrist-portion, a cham! bored element extending rearwardly from said 'wrist-portion, a-plurality of articulating links movably disposed within said chambered element, a post extending from one of said links, a cam-lever pivotedto said chambered element, said lever being inengagement with said post for actuating said links, andmeans inthe form of tendonsextending from another of said links and connected with said thumb and finger-members for bringing the same into flexed positions.

7. An artificial limb comprising a-tubular wrist-portion, a thumb-member and a plurality of finger-members extending forwardly from said wrist-portion, a .chambered element extending rearwardly from said wrist-portion, a -plurality of articulating links movably disposed within said chambered-element, 'a post extending from one of said links, a cam-lever pivoted to said chambered element, said lever being in engagement with said post'for actuating said links, means in the form of tendons extendingfrom another of said links and connected with said thumb and finger-members for bringing the same into flexed positions, and a stop-means connected with said chambered element with which said post is adapted to be brought into arrested engagement for retaining said articulating links in their rearwardly moved positions.

8. An artificial limb comprising a tubular wrist-portion formed with a forwardly extending portion provided with marginal flanges, a plate secured to said wrist-portion between the said marginal flanges, said plate being provided with raised and laterally perforated retaining members, flexing finger-members, each member comprising a coiled spring, said springs having portions of their coils threaded in the perforations of said retaining members for fixing said springs in position, and means connected with said springs and the wrist-portion for flexing said springs and the said fingermembers.

9. An artificial limb comprising a tubular wrist-portion formed with a forwardly extending portion provided with marginal flanges, a plate secured to said wristportion between the said marginal flanges, said plate being provided with raised and laterally perforated retaining members, flexing finger-members, each member comprising a coiled spring, said springs .having portions of their coils threaded in the perforations of said retaining members for kfixing said springs in position, a plate-like member extending rearwardly from said wristportion, a box secured upon said rearwardly extending member, a slide movably disposed within said box, means connected with said slide for actuating the same, and means also connected with said slide and withsaid springs for flexing sai-d springs and the finger-members.

In testimony, that 'I claim 'the invention set forth above I have hereunto set myvhand this 17 th day of May, 1918.

CHARLES HOFER. 1Witnesses FREDK C. FRAENTZEL, FREDK H. W. FRAENTZEL.

Copies of this patentmay be obtained for vefcents each, by-addressinglthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

